_Review of the prominent features in Solon's legislation._ Its main object was to abolish the oppressive aristocracy, without however introducing a pure democracy. 1. Provisional laws: abolition of the statutes of Draco, those against murder excepted: law enacted for the relief of debtors, ([Greek: seisachtheia], novae tabulae,) not so much by cancelling the debts as by diminishing their amount by a rise in the value of money; and likewise by ensuring the personal liberty of the debtor. 2. Fundamental laws, both in reference to the constitution and in reference to private life and private rights.--Constitution of the state. (_a_) Organization of the people by means of divisions: according to property into four classes; the Pentacosimedimni, or those who had a yearly income of 500 medimni; the Equites, ([Greek: hippeis],) who had 400; the Zeugitae, who had 300; and the Thetes, (capite censi,) whose yearly revenue did not amount to so much.--The ancient divisions according to heads, into wards, ([Greek: phylai],) of which there were four, and according to residence into demi, (hundreds,) of which a hundred and seventy are enumerated, were preserved. (_b_) None but citizens of the three first classes could fill all the offices of state; but all were admitted to the popular assemblies, and had a right of voting in the courts of judicature. (_c_) The nine archons annually chosen, who acted as supreme magistrates, although not permitted to assume military office at the same time, remained at the head of the state; the first bearing the name of [Greek: eponumos], the second of [Greek: basileus], the third of [Greek: polemarchos], the remaining six that of [Greek: thesmothetai]. Combined with the archons was (_d_) The council, ([Greek: boule],) which consisted of a body of four hundred persons annually taken from the three first classes of citizens; (a hundred from each ward;) these were chosen by lot, but were obliged to submit to a rigid examination ([Greek: dokimasia]) before they entered upon office. The archons were obliged to consult the four hundred on every occurrence; and nothing could be carried down to the commons until it had been previously debated in this council. (_e_) To the people, consisting of the whole four classes, was reserved the right in its assemblies ([Greek: ekklesiai]) of confirming the laws, of electing the magistrates, of debating all public affairs referred to them by the council, and likewise the public distribution of justice. (_f_) The areopagus was, according to Solon's plan, to be the main buttress of the constitution; that tribunal had hitherto been a mere tool in the hands of the aristocracy. It was composed of retired archons, and remained not only the supreme tribunal in capital cases, but likewise was charged with the superintendence of morals, with the censorship